Cooling device for beds and sleeping-compartments



R. N. RICHARDSON..

M1 DEVICE ECH BEDS A 0001.1 ND SLEEPING GOMPARTMENTS.

APPUCATION 1'1LED 11116.22. 1911.

Patented Jn,

6, 1920. 3 s11EETssHEE1 1.

Wirzesses,

R. N. RICHARDSON.

COOLING DEVICE FOR BEDS AND SLEEPING COMPARTIVIENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22| 19H..

Patented J an. 6, 1920.

33 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

17 I 2lnvenar, I

Wznesses,

M5L W v R. N. RICHARDSON. COOLING DEVICE FOR BEDS AND SLEEPING COMPARTMENTS.

`APPLICATION man Aue.22, mez. 1,327,214, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

3 sHEETs-sHEU s.

` UNITED ,STATES 'PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT NEWTON RICHARDSON, 'OE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. A

` COOIl'iIIfl'Gr DEVICE FOR BEDSAND SL'EEING-CMPARTMENTS,

To all whom t may concern l Be it known that I, ROBERT NEWTON RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States,

residingat Los Angeles, in the county of .Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cooling Devices for Beds and .Sleeping- Compartments, 'of which'the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a cooling deviceVv for sleeping compartments and other `inclos'ed chambers, and has forfits primary object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construcf tion whereby the evaporation of .water upon the walls offthe chamber islutilized to obtain a cooling effect.

' A further object of. the `invention is'to provide a simply constructed inexpensiveand ec'ient means for cooling sleeping compartments andthe like inhot weathenn Another object isito provide a ,means of the above character which will'cool the air immediately surrounding and 'adjacent to the bed in a sleeping compartmentwith 'which' it is associated, Vby a" simple refrigera-Z tion process that may be carried outl effec!` A v x canopy'or wall 6` of approximately semitively at a minimum expense.;

Other objects and advantagesv will appear in the course -of the following description.

Inthefdmwinge.

ing cooling means associated therewith;

Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the apparatusw water. .The bars'9 on their upper sidesfare Y provided with ianges'lO that partially close the upper open sidesof the bars. l

shown in Fig. v1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showingthe.

y bed with the cooling means raised to permit access to `the bed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary secv tional view taken on line mt-a't, Fig. 1, particularly illustrating the details of construc- I broken intermediately of its ends and taken on the line v6-m6, Fig..5; 'and Fig 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view broken at its upper side, of another modiied form of the invention, showing a sleeping compartment'provided with cooling means of novel construction.

This invention consists in the provision of a sleeping mclosure or space which 1s vSpecificationof Letters Patent.

There is provided a means for supplying 5 is anend elevation of aniodiiiedI constructed, formed and adapted to receive' a bed. The inclosure or space is' constructed means for producing evaporation/which is associated with a wall that in Aart confines the 1nclosure. The'evaporation which takes .Referring to the drawings, in which like i parts throughout the several views are designated by like reference characters, A desig- .nates as an entirety a bed which as shown comprises a box-like "rectangular frame 1 having a'vbottom wall 2, land side and end walls 3. Suitable springs 4 are mounted4 upon the bottom'wall 2 and support a mattress 5 of the Ordinary' construction. "Although this type of bed is shown without legs and is particularly adapted tol be placed upon the ground for camping purposes, it is t'o'be understoodthat any other type of bed may bev usedif sol desired.

There is provided a means B for cooling the bed or theair immediately above or around the latter. -This .means comprises a cylindrical vconstruction and which is preferably formed of some suitable metal. This canopy is secured along its `longitudinal edges 'to a rectangularframe 7 which is hinged as at 8 to the frame 1 of the bed A.,

-The sidesof the frame are formed of troughlike vbars 9 which arie ladapted to ,contain moistureto the -outer surface of the cano y 6'in'order that the cooling action may ta e place. This means comprises an absorbent sheet or wick member 11 substantially equal In'length and width to the canopy 6, and whichis extended entirely overthe outer Patented Jan. 6,1920. Application Afiled. August 22,1917. j Serial 510.187,688. I

in order that a person or persons may have g access thereto, and there is provided a 60.

surface of said canopy 6. "The longitudinal edges `of this wick member are disposed ywithin the trough-like bars 9 arranged# at osite sides' of the frame 7, there being OP suflicient space between the -langes 1() which project inwardly fromA the upper edges oi' the outer walls and the inner walls 4of the troughs 9 to permit of the insertion of the vwick 11 into the trough-like bars.

The ends of the canopy 6 are open,but

may if desired be closed with foraminous material not shown. To provide for the opening ofthe canopy of the casing therein to permit access to the bed there is provided a handle 12 which is secured to the front bar 9 of the frame 7. To prepare the bed for use, water is poured into the containing means therefor comprising the troughs 9 of the frame 7, and the canopyvrnay be raised as shown in Fig. 3 to permit of the occupancy of the bed. In this connection it will be noted that the flanges 10 serve to prevent the vwater from flowing out of the troughs 9 when the canopy is raised.` By capillary action the water in the troughs 9 thoroughly saturates the wick 11 and the outer surface of the metal. canopy 6 is moistened. The evaporation of the moisture upon, and about the outer surface of the canopy 6 causes the cooling of the atmosphere withintlie canopy, and this process is practically continuous; resulting in the maintenance of a cool atmosphere beneath the canopy and around the bed. p' v In this way it will be seen that an occupant of the bed may sleep with 'extreme comfort regardless of weather conditions. The canopy 6 may be raised and lowered as desired to permit of the getting into or out of the bed, and is sufficiently .large and high to avoid the causing of any discomfort to an occupant of the bed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein` there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, C designates a bed having cooling means D associated therewith, both the bed and cooling means being modified in construction as compared to the bed and cooling meansin theJ preferred form of the invention.

The bed C comprises a rectangular frame 13'which consists of side and end walls 14 and a bottom wall 15. The side kand end walls 14 are provided with elongated openings 1'6 positioned at their lower sides, and the bottom wall 15 is secured to the side and end walls 14 at the upper edges ofthe openings 16 so as to provide a. space beneath the bottom wall that will permit of the circulation of air beneath the bed. This space is screened, there being sheets of foraminous material 17 secured to the walls 14 and coveri'ng said openings 16. Suitable springs 18 is secured to the upper edge of one of the side walls 14 and at its ends is secured to bars 24 that are mounted upon the upper edges of the end walls 14. Extending upwardly from the bars 23 and 24 at points adjacent to the junctures of said bars are arched bars 25 which support a curved preferably metal plate 26 forming a part of the body of the canopy or cover. y

Section 21 comprises a frame 29 of segmental outline and which corresponds to the frame 22 including the bars 25 attached thereto. The lower inner corners vof the frame 29 are pivoted as at 30 to the bars 24 of the frame 22 so that said section 21 is tiltable relative to the bed. The frame 29,

part of the frame 29 lis a preferably metal plate 33 which constitutes the other part of the body of the canopy or cover D. Certain corresponding ends of the sections v2() and 21 are closed by sheets of foraminous material 34, -and the other ends of the sections are closed by plates or panels 35. The panels 35 provide a weatherproof construction and permit of the exposing of the end of the device carrying saidpanels, to the elements.

-cover D. This means constitutes the two sheets 36 and 37 of absorbent material, pref-r erably wicking, which sheets are mounted upon the plates 2,6 and 33 of the sections 20 and 21. The side bar23 of the frame 22 and the corresponding side bar of the frame 29 are of trough-like construction' and provide reservoirs 38 containing water. The vlower edges of these sheets 36 and 37 of wicking extend into the reservoirsV 38 and the water in the reservoirs is distributed over the surfaces of the plates 26 and 33 by capillary action. l

In the operation of this form of the invention the canopy or cover D which normally 1s in position asl shown m Figs. 4 and 5, is opened. to permit of the occupancy of the bed C. To open the canopy' or` cover the tiltable section 21 is tilted into the dotted` line position shown in Fig. l5, theKA tilting action being aided by the weights 31. After the bed has been occupied the occupant may easily lower the section 21 into position and the bed is then screened against mosquitoes and like insects. The water is distributed over the outer surfaces of the plates -26 and lso 33 byithe capillary action of the Wicks 36 and 37 and the moistened surfaces of said plates upon evaporating provide for a cooling action which causes the air Within the canopy and over the bed to becooled.. This refrigerating or cooling action'is continuous and provides for the maintenance of a cool area around the bed C. The circulation of air permitted beneath the bed `by the particular construction thereof is effective in maintaining the bed and the adjacent area Cool. It will be observed that an occupant of the bed may readily and easily raise-the section 21.0f the canopy or cover D, and as easily lower said section. The weatherproof construction of the bed at one end provided by the use of the panels 35 particularly adapts the bed for outdoor uses.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7 wherein there is illustrated another modified form of the invention, G designates a house, or other building structure or inclosure in which is provided sleeping compartments H including the floor J ofthe structure Gr.A A bed K is disposed within thev compartment H and a door L opening into the compartment is provided. This constructionV including the hereinbefore described elements coniprises a sleeping compartment, but may be varied and otherwise constructed as desired, within a fair interpretation of the invention. There is provided a cooling means generally designated M which houses or covers the bed K. This means M includes a preferably metal semi-cylindrical canopy or wall 39 which as shown is closed at its ends by the walls 40 of the structure G or compartment H. Thiscanopy 29 is supported alongI y its longitudinal edges upon walls 41, and exteriorly of the canopy 39 at the lower edges thereof are provided reservoirs`42 adapted to contain water. There are provided drain pipes 43 for the reservoirs 42 and suitable means not shown may be provided to lill said reservoirs.

A means N is provided for distributing moisture over the outer surface of the can- .opy or Wall 39. `This means comprises a sheet 44 of absorbent materialor wicking and said sheet .is mounted upon the outer surface of the Wall 39 with its lower edges disposed within the reservoirs 42.

There is provided a' means for causing the circulation of air around and over the canopy or Wall 39 so that the evaporation of the moisture and the subsequent cooling action will be effectively provided. This means constitutes a housing 45 comprising side walls 46, and a sectional top wall 47 the end walls of the housing being provided by the walls of the structure Gr or compartment H. This housing 45 provides a space 48 around the canopy 39. There are provided air intake openings 49 and 50 located on opposite sides of the housing in the upper Wall 47 thereof. These openings 49 and 50 permit air to enter the space 4 8 and to circulate around the canopy 39. An air iue 51 communicates with the space 48 and is attached to the Wall 47 of the housing and the roof L52 ofthe structure G, said iue 51 extending through the roof. The flue 51 provides for acirculation of air in the space 48, and to ycause the air to be thoroughly distributed throughout the entire space there are provided oscillatory fans 53 and 54 which are located on opposite sides of and within the housing 45. Suitable stands 55 support the fans upon the Walls 46 of the housing. Extending up through the floor J of the structure are air inlet pipes 56 Which com'- municate with the basement or space beneath the structure Gr and provide for the introduction of cool air to the interior of' the structure Gr. Inasmuch as there is provided a suction through the action of the fans 53, it being noted that said fans arc located adjacent tothe openings 49 and 50,

the air Willbe readily drawn or sucked through the pipes 56 into the structure G and through the openings 49 and 50 into the space 48.

In the operation of this form of the invention, vassuming that the compartment H is occupied and water is contained in the reservoirs 42, the evaporating action Will take place when the wick 44 has distributed the moistureover the outer 'surface of the canopy .or Wall 39 by capillary attraction, and the cooling `of the atmosphere interiorly of the4 canopy or Within the compartment H is thus provided. The fans 53 and 54 may be controlledl by suitable means no-t shown 'and when operated provide vfor expeditious Aevaporation of the moisture upon the canopy. The oscillation of the fans insures a .complete and thorough evaporation and causes air from the space Within the structure 'G to be drawn through the openings 49 and 50 into the space 48 between the ho-using 45 and the canopy 39. Air will escape through the flue 51 and in this way a thorough circulation of air Within the space 48 is provided.

- With reference to the foregoing descripand accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided inexpensive and e'ective apparatus for' cooling and keeping cool sleeping inclosures in order that occupants thereof mayv sleep in comfort in extremely hot weather.

. closed.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: l. A'cooling device for compartments including an arched inclosing wall defining the compartment to be cooled, a liquid containing trough extending along one side of the arched inclosing Wall, an absorbent thickness itted over the inclosing wall and havthe trou h, and a` guard flange eXtendin inwardly rom one of the upper edges o the,

trough to prevent spilling ofl the liquid contents of the trough. l p

,2. A cooling device for compartments, in-

l'cluding'an arched wall defining the compartment to be cooled, liquid containingl troughs extending along the sides of the arched inclosing wall at the bottoni thereof, an absorbent lthickness fitted over the inclosing wall and having the ends thereof extended into the troughs, and guard flanges y projecting inwardly from upper edges of the y troughs to prevent spilling of `the liquid contents thereof.

3. A cooling device forcompartments, inl cluding arched inclosing walls defining a compartment to be cooled, a housing inclosing the said walls in a spaced relation thereto, air inlets and outlets being provided in l ceiving portions of the absorbent layer and feeding liquid thereto by capillary attraction, and fans within the space between the inclosing Walls and housing to direct a current of air against the absorbent layer to closin walls. f

4.-. vapparatus of the character disclosed, an inclosure,'acanopy" within the inclosure, a housing for the canopy7 being spaced therefrom, producing an air spacel opy;'an air outlet for said inclosure and aliproduce a rapid evaporation of the liquid f ing an edge portion thereof extended into '..which is distributed thereby over thev inair inlet communicatingwith said inclosure In testimony whereof, I `have signed my name to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses. A Y.

4ROBERT NEWTON RICHARDSON.

Witnesses: y v p ADA HUFFMAN,

CHAs. J. CHUNN. v 

